The United Nations and its Security Council should be the legal basis that guarantees the joint struggle against terrorism, says Russian Deputy Foreign Minister Gennady Gatilov

United Nation Security Council meeting

MOSCOW, November 16. /TASS/. Russia’s initiative to pool anti-terror efforts that was advanced at a ministerial session of the United Nation Security Council has not been agreed with foreign partners, Russian Deputy Foreign Minister Gennady Gatilov said on Monday.

"It was a resolution of general character on the necessity to pool efforts to counter terrorism in the light of the developments in the Middle East," he said.

"Regrettably, there is no progress on this resolution," the Russian diplomat said. "We suggested the idea and a corresponding text, but we failed to agree the content with our partners. No practical work is being done on this resolution."

According to Gatilov, the United Nations and its Security Council should be the legal basis that guarantees the joint struggle against terrorism.

"We are trying to mobilize our partners for collective action," he said. "The United Nations and its security Council must be the legal basis that will guarantee the collective fight against terrorism."

Speaking about Russia’s role at the United Nations, Gatilov said that it was at the initiative of Russia that the resolutions on curbing the illegal trade in oil and artifacts had been passed. "We will try to take additional steps to make sure that countries account for measures taken by them in a more responsible manner, in particular on oil trade," he added. "However, not all tackle the issue fully and responsibly."

Gatilov pointed to the response of the international community to the events in France, which were "condemned by everyone." "There has been some response, but some shortfalls remain," he said. "There is still much to be done so that the decisions, which are good in their essence, start working."

Russian Deputy Foreign Minister Oleg Syromolotov stressed that the fight against terrorism should be waged under a United Nations banner.

"Russia’s fundamental stance is that any anti-terrorism effort should be made under the auspices of the United Nations," the senior diplomat told a joint session of the upper house Federation Council International Affairs and Security committees.

The coalition set up by the United States to fight terrorists in Iraq and Afghanistan was "practically illegitimate from the point of view of international law", he said.

"We are suggesting a coalition set up under the UN aegis with respect for basic principles of the international organisation.".